Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Vesica · 11-18-2002, 09:46 AM

The following blurb was posted on 'News of the Weird'.

Quote:

On Nov. 2, skydiver Ron Sirull (1,000 career jumps) performed at the Air and Space Show at Vandenberg Air Force Base (just north of Lompoc, Calif.), accompanied by his Dachshund, Brutus the Skydiving Dog (100 career jumps), to the protests of animal-rights activists but (according to Sirull) to the delight of Brutus, who was "totally turned on." (Brutus doesn't jump alone; he wears goggles and rides in Sirull's jumpsuit. According to Sirull, Brutus' vet and the Arizona Humane Society say the jumps are safe.) [Seattle Post-Intelligencer-AP, 11-3-02]

So is this an animal right's issue at all? Is the owner, Ron Sirull, capable of assessing his pup's enjoyment of the experience? Are people just plain nuts??

Just curious about your opinions.

[ November 18, 2002: Message edited by: Vesica ]</p>

Pseudonymph · 11-18-2002, 10:04 AM

Hmm...usually a vet would be able to tell if an animal is uncomfortable. Allthough I wonder how they would distinguish fear from excitement(the fun kind)

So if a reliable vet gives his ok, and the dog seems to show no signs of trauma, then I see no problem with it.

Vesica · 11-18-2002, 10:08 AM

I was wondering about the fear vs. excitment issue too but I was assuming that if the dog actively particpated in getting ready for the jump by doing things like hopping into the plane, coming over to get his gear on, not running away, not whimpering etc. one could assume the dog was okay with it.

Of course, the first time out the dog would be clueless....How do you explain to a dog that you are going to hop out of a plane but everything will be fine...probably?

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11-18-2002, 10:04 AM	#2
Pseudonymph Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 813	Hmm...usually a vet would be able to tell if an animal is uncomfortable. Allthough I wonder how they would distinguish fear from excitement(the fun kind) So if a reliable vet gives his ok, and the dog seems to show no signs of trauma, then I see no problem with it.

11-18-2002, 10:08 AM	#3
Vesica Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sunny FLA USA Posts: 212	I was wondering about the fear vs. excitment issue too but I was assuming that if the dog actively particpated in getting ready for the jump by doing things like hopping into the plane, coming over to get his gear on, not running away, not whimpering etc. one could assume the dog was okay with it. Of course, the first time out the dog would be clueless....How do you explain to a dog that you are going to hop out of a plane but everything will be fine...probably?

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